Dover officer assaulted during domestic dispute

A Dover police officer was assaulted during a domestic dispute Saturday evening as he tried to take a woman, identified as Elaina Smith, into custody.

The officer went to the scene at 7:10 p.m. Aug. 16 in the first block of South Governors Avenue, to find smith and a 35-year-old man involved in an argument, said police spokesman Cpl. Mark Hoffman.

Smith allegedly got out of the victim’s vehicle, broke a passenger side window and punched the man in the face. The officer also was punched in the face, suffering a broken nose, while trying to take Smith into custody, Hoffman said.

Smith was charged with second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, offensive touching, criminal mischief under $1,000, disorderly conduct and endangering the welfare of a child. The latter charge stems from the fact Smith’s children were present and observed the incident, Hoffman said.

Smith was ordered jailed at the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution, New Castle, after failing to pay a $7,250 secured bond.